Method of providing track shoes



March 19, 1929. c. I BEST 1,705,801?

METHOD OF PROVIDING TRACK SHOES med Jan. 9, 192e 5 sheets-sheet 1 TQACTO Q U) r4 g .h`

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METHOD OF PROVIDING TRACK SHOES Filed Jan. 9, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C70/ence e0 @e5 ATTORI E March 19, 1929. Q L BEST 1,705,802

f METHOD OF PROVIDING TRACK SHOES Filed Jan. 9, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F IE E IN VENTOR B- C/arence eo eff Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,705,802 PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE LEO BEST, OF SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 CATERPILLAR TRACTOR CO., OF SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF PROVIDING TRACK SHOES.

Application filed January 9, 1928. Serial No. 245,299.

My invention relates to a method of providing track shoes Which are especially applicable to track type tractors.

In experimenting With and developing tractors over a long period I have found that one of the most important features affecting the commercialsuccess of a track type tractor is the track shoe. Track shoes of almost every conceivable kin/d and form have been experimented with and utilized by me with varying results. Among all of the different kinds, a few have stood out as decided 1mprovements and When they have been put to practical tests on tractors actively engaged in the field it has been found, other things being equal, .that the life and serviceability of the tractor is increased almost exactly in accordance with the improvement in the track shoes.

For these reasons, it is an object of my invention to afford a method of providing track shoes Which produces a track shoe superior to those now in use.

Another object of my invention is to afford a method of providing track shoes which is relatively inexpensive and is Well adapted to quantity production.

My invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which with the foregoing Will be set forth at length in the following` description 'Where I shall outline in full that foi-iii of the method of providing track shoes of my invention, which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of my method of providing track shoes embodying my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

In the drawings:

, Fig. l is a diagramindicating the metho of my invention. v I

Fig. 2 is a plan of one form of shoe produced by my novel method.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the shoe shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the shoe disclosed in Fig. 3, the plane of section being indicated by line 4 4 of that figure.

Fig. 5 is a plan of a modified form of shoe produced by my method.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the shoe shown in Fig. 5.

of a single track shoe, severing the strip into 6o a. plurality of plates, perforatingthe plates for the reception of fasteners, and arranging the finished shoes soiformed inoverlapping relationship o n a track and `in a direction normal to the direction in which they were rolled.

In the form of finished shoe shown in Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, there is usually provided a body or plate 6 of generally rectangular outline having a grouser or rib 7 extending there- 70 across for traction purposes. This rib can project any desired amount from the main body of the plate 6. Preferably, the ends 8 and 9 of the plate'are inclined at an obtuse angle to the ground-contacting surface thereof to aid the shoe in slipping laterally over the ground when it is in use on a tractoi. In most instances, the plates 6 are used in overlapping relationship and I therefore provide a tapered edge 11 along one side of the plate S0 6 which is adapted to be overlaid' by a proljection 12 extending from the opposite side of a similar plate. The track shoes are preferably secured to' track link by fasteners, 4not shown, which pass thru suitable perforations 35 13 piercing the body of the plate G.

A similar track shoe is disclosed in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, and usually comprises a plate 16 having a grouser or rib 17 thereacross and being provided with inclined or beveled ends 18 and 19. To afford an oveilapl'iing relationship between the individual shoes of a sei'ies, there is formed a projection 21 adjacent the rib 17 and an overhanging lip 22 along the side remote from the rib 17. This plate also is provided with a plurality of apertures 23 for the reception of fasteners securing the finished shoe to a track.

In producing the track shoes of the type described, I preferably employ a bar 2G of 10 suitable metal. This bar is passed thru a rolling means including one or more sets of rollers 27 and 28 Which are suitably contoured to effect the desired cross section in the finished track shoe. The length of the bai' 2G is 10 preferably such that when the lbar has emerged from the rolling means, as at 29, it is a multiple of the length of an indivii'lual is a cross section on the line 7 7 of 55 track 1shoe. It will be noted that the rolled strip Q9 has an integrali-ib 3l extending lon-1 track shoe. rlhe severing actionof the shearu preferably cuts the strip 29 transversely of the ribrz3l and transversely of the direction in which the strip progresses thru the process. Inaddition, the cutting plane of the shear is 4preferably inclined to the upper and lower faces of the strip to produce beveled edges at both ends of the issuing plates 33. These plates are of the requisite cross section and dimensions ofthe finished track shoes but are further processed by being passed thru a perforating means 34 which pierces suitable perforations 36 thru them.

The track shoes thus iinishedare secured to the track link 38 of a tractor 37 by suitable fasteners-39, with the leading and trailing `extremities of each shoe lapping the corresponding extremities of the adjacent shoes. The ribs 31 of the adjacent shoes are arranged so that their direction of motion in use is normal to the direction in Which they passed thru the rolling means. Advantage is thus taken of the flow of the metal in rolling and oit' the crystal arrangement resulting from the process to afford a maximum resistance to ordinary Wear.

It has been found in practice that track shoes produeedaccording to my improved method are of excellent quality primarily due "to the rolling process, and are quickly and k economically produced, asis evidenced by the straight-line production indicated in the diagrammatic View.

I claim: i

l. A method of providing track shoes comprising rolling a metal bar into a strip having portions adapted to lap suitable portions on a similar strip, severing said strip into a plurality of plates, and perforating said plates to provide a finished track shoe.

2. A method of providing track shoes comprising rolling a metal bar into a strip having a longitudinal rib, severing said strip transversely of said rib intoa plurality of plates, perforat-ing said plates for the reception of fasteners, and fastening said plates to a track With the ribs on said plates disposed to travel in a direction normal to their direction of production.

3. A method of providing track shoes comprising rolling a metal bar into a strip having a longitudinal rib and a longitudinal surface and heilig equal inlength to a plurality of track shoes, severing said strip transversely of said rib and at an inclination to said surface to form a plurality of plates with bevels on said severed edges, and perforating said plates for the reception of fasteners.

4. A method of providing track shoes comprising rolling a metal bar into a strip having portions adapted to lap suitable portions on a similar strip, severing said strip into a plurality of plates, and arranging said plates' in overlapping relationship in a direction` normal to the direction in which they Were rolled. f

In test-imony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

"i f CLARENCE LEO BEST. 

